John was Chief Executive Officer/Managing Partner at Stewart McKelvey for more than 12 years. An experienced board chair and member, community leader and a skilled and respected legal counsel, John is a leader in every sense.

With unquestioned integrity and decades of legal, business and management experience, John is known for being entrepreneurial and strategic with exceptional problem-solving, consensus building and people skills. Throughout his time as CEO, he enhanced Stewart McKelvey’s position as Atlantic Canada’s leading law firm and led the firm to year over year growth. He has a track record of successfully managing a large business and forging strong relationships with clients and colleagues who view him as strategic, trusted and innovative.

John is actively involved in his community. He is currently serving as: director of the Nova Scotia Health Authority; chair and member of the Board of Governors of Acadia University; director and former chair of United Way Halifax; and trustee of Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund. John has also served as: chair and director of IWK Health Centre; chair and director of Halifax Chamber of Commerce; campaign co-chair of United Way Halifax; division chair Marketing and Sponsorship and director of 2011 Halifax Canada Winter Games Host Society; member of Advisory Panel to Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness on District Health Authority Consolidation; director of Junior Achievement of Canada Foundation; Halifax corporate campaign chair of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; director of Friends of the Public Gardens; member of Canadian Bar Association Entity Regulation Working Group; and director and secretary of Discovery Centre.

An avid traveler, runner, cyclist and skier, John hopes to qualify to run the Boston Marathon for a third time. He gets refreshed by canoeing the back country of Nova Scotia and some of Canada’s greatest white water rivers.